The Mongol Derby is an equestrian endurance race. The race extends 1000 km through the Mongolian Steppe and is known as the world's longest horse race. The course recreates the horse messenger system developed by Genghis Khan in 1224. In the 2016 race, there was 21 men and 23 women playing the role of the messengers, and representing 13 countries. The exact course changes every year, and is kept secret until shortly before the race begins. The terrain will invariably include mountain passes, green open valleys, wooded hills, river crossings, wetland and floodplains, sandy semi-arid dunes, rolling hills, dry riverbeds and of course open steppe. The entry fee for 2020 is £11,375, and provides the rider access to 25-27 Mongolian horses, a support team, pre-race training, and access to the support stations along the way. Riders must change horses every 40 km at the support stations. Along the way are vet checks to monitor the condition of the horses, and the vets may impose time penalties if the riders push their horses too hard along the trail. To gain entry as a competitor, each rider must demonstrate that their riding skills are strong enough to endure the harsh terrain of the race. The horses themselves are semi-wild, and may not cooperate with the rider, adding one more level of difficulty to the race. Riders will spend thirteen to fourteen hours a day in the saddle, and the race lasts ten days. To complete the race is an accomplishment in and of itself, as only half the racers usually finish the race in any given year.
History
The first Mongol Derby took place in 2009 and has continued annually since then. It is a multi-horse race, modelled after the postal route established by Genghis Khan in 1224. It was the world's first long distance postal system, based on a network of horse stations. The Mongol Derby similarly incorporates 25 horse stations and rest stops along a length of 1000 km through the Mongolian Steppe. Along the course of the race, riders have the option to stay with local nomads or camp out. In 2010, the Mongol Derby achieved the Guinness World Record title of longest multi-horse race. In addition to enduring the distance of the trek, some challenges faced by the participants include, a high probability of injury associated with riding 25 different unfamiliar and "semi-wild" Mongol horses, travelling through remote and unmarked territory in a variety of landscapes, exposure to harsh elements, physical discomfort and exhaustion, and rules of the race, such as restricted riding hours allowed each day. In 2016 the Mongol Derby was won in a tie by three people, William Comiskey aka Dingo of Australia, Heidi Telstad of Canada and Marcia Hefker Miles of New Mexico.
Past winners
The following is a list of past winners of the Mongol Derby, and their home countries.
The feature documentary filmAll the Wild Horses was shot over three races between 2012 and 2016, to be released in 2017. The producer, Ivo Marloh, rode and completed the Mongol Derby twice himself in order to get the footage needed for the film.
